Alan Rickman brings a lot of good elements together in A Little Chaos. It’s beautiful to look at, from the elaborate work of the art department to the interesting visual contrasts between the natural countryside of rural Versailles and the powdered wigs and lace of the court. Ellen Kuras’ cinematography also generates visual interest with its moody lighting and elegant camera movement. Samuel Karl Bohn’s music blends Baroque with contemporary minimalism, complementing the updated approach Rickman takes with this historical drama. The performances here are also strong, especially those of Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts and Stanley Tucci.
Yet Rickman is unable to bring all these excellent elements into the happy union of a good film. Despite the performances, the script doesn’t give us enough information to let us accept the characters’ behaviors. It comes as a surprise when Sabine tentatively reaches for Le Nôtre’s hand as there has been no previous indication of affection, and we likewise lack understanding of Le Nôtre’s motivation through most of the movie. His brooding lacks cause, while Sabine’s borders on cliché. The development of the character of Louis XIV seems tangential to the main dramatic thrust of the film and feels a little like the director putting himself center stage. And as beautiful as the film is, the long visual sequences slow the film’s pace and we find ourselves with too many court and construction scenes. The result is a film that moves slowly and whose characters lack a cohesive arc.
For all its good points, this film moves slowly and unconvincingly. A Little Chaos is less than the sum of its parts.
